So You Want To Teach As A Private Music Tutor?

An Introduction for Musicians For many of today's musicians, working as a private music tutor has many benefits over working within an educational establishment. Firstly, you are a lot freer to choose where, when, and depending on how well you teach, WHO your students are. This will also let you continue whatever employment or other commitments you already have. Building up your student base slowly allows you to commit time to each of them to find out their learning style and prepare for their lessons without feeling overwhelemed suddenly with 30 new students starting next week. Starting out, the idea of being an "expert" can feel rather daunting... especially for those of us who learned by gigging, and may not be the best sight-readers. Others among us have studied music and/or education to higher levels. But no matter where you stand between these two, those first few steps into teaching music as an income is terrifying. Two main advantages I have seen in my time working as a private music tutor are 1. You have a lot more potential to work the hours you choose, and where you choose. Allowing your other commitments time where they need it. 2. If you teach children, generally, they are far more likely to behave and be responsive to teaching when either on their own as there is no one to show off to. School music lessons - especially in junior high school can be pretty hard to control. 3. You can vary the genres and methods you use as you see fit, not as a strict school curriculum requires. 4. You can focus all your attention on one student who WANTS to learn... if they don't, why are you teaching them - your morale will take a huge blow, and your time would be better invested in working with an interested student. Monetary benefits will come into the equation somewhere... let's face it; they have to in this world. However, if all you can see are pound signs and have no real interest to teach, work with others, or enjoy music... perhaps private tuition is not for you. In my personal opinion, private teachers can make a very comfortable living, and with some commitment and effort can easily make